This fish is elongate and rounded in shape with small fins and a rounded caudal fin. It has small eyes, a large head and an equally large mouth complete with several sets of barbels. A Yellow Bullhead's "beard" (those 4 barbels on the lower jaw) is yellow-to-white in colour. This is a clear distinction from the related Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) and Ameiurus nebulosus (Brown Bullhead). The body of a Yellow Bullhead is a deep red-brown in colour with a paler cream-yellow belly.